WHERE CREATIVITY MEETS CRAFT
A BLOG ABOUT DESIGN, FLAVOR, AND FUNCTION
Great design and great cooking have a lot in common—both require strategy, intuition, and a deep understanding of the people you're serving. This blog explores the connections between UX design, branding, and culinary creativity, breaking down how the principles of flavor, presentation, and experience apply to both the kitchen and the digital world. Whether it’s designing a seamless user journey or plating a dish to perfection, it’s all about creating something that’s as delightful as it is functional.

Featured in Shoutout DFW Magazine — Yana Simms of Petite Eats
I’m thrilled to share that I recently had the opportunity to tell my story in Shoutout DFW Magazine—from my culinary beginnings to the heart of what Petite Eats stands for.
In the feature, I talk about:
- My journey as a queer, Black woman building a brand grounded in community, design, and flavor.
- What inspired the aesthetic and values behind Petite Eats.
- The lessons I’ve learned about growth, intention, and representation through food.
It means so much to me to see Petite Eats—and my voice—reflected in a space like this. You can read the full feature [here]


What UX Designers Can Learn from Chefs
Good UX design, much like cooking, is all about balance, precision, and intuition. Just as a chef layers flavors to create a dish that delights the senses, a designer carefully crafts elements to ensure a seamless user experience. Whether it's understanding the "mise en place" (everything in its place) of a clean layout, or how overcomplicating a dish (or an interface) can ruin the experience, the kitchen and the design studio have more in common than you might think. Let's break down the recipe for great UX and how mastering the fundamentals of cooking can make you a better designer.

Branding Like a Signature Dish: Making Your Business Stand Out
Every great chef has a signature dish—something instantly recognizable, uniquely theirs, and unforgettable. Branding works the same way. Your visual identity, messaging, and customer experience should be as distinctive as a dish people crave. Just like a chef refines a recipe through trial and error, businesses must experiment, iterate, and perfect their brand identity to leave a lasting impression. If you want people to recognize your brand as soon as they see it (just like you know a Big Mac or a Starbucks cup from a mile away), it's time to think like a chef and start curating your signature brand experience.